648
AutisticRadio
Founded in 2021, Autistic Radio Network is the home of Spectrum Voices Conversation Live & Podcasts
Menopause can be a very hard experience for Autistic women.
We are not here to compare or minimize what other women go through. We are here to say this: many Autistic women enter menopause already dealing with a lot. Our nervous system can already be on high alert, masking and avoiding social rejection. Our sensory system can already feel overloaded. We are often putting in significant effort just to stay calm and focused day to day. When menopause adds hot flashes, sleep disruption, and hormonal shifts on top of that, it can feel like too much, all at once.
Here are 10 of the most impactful reasons the Autistic menopause experience is so extra:
SENSORY SENSITIVITY INCREASES MORE SHARPLY
Many women notice some sensitivity changes. Autistic women often experience a significant spike, where heat, sweat, fabrics, and noise can become overwhelming or even painful.
HOT FLASHES ARE MORE THAN PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT
For many non-Autistic women, hot flashes are uncomfortable. For Autistic women, they can trigger sensory overload, distress, and a loss of regulation.
EMOTIONAL CHANGES CAN FEEL HARDER TO REGULATE
Mood shifts happen for many women. Autistic women may experience them as more intense, faster, and harder to recover from.
EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DECLINES MORE NOTICEABLY
Brain fog is common in menopause. Autistic women may experience a sharper drop in planning, memory, and task initiation because these systems were already working hard.
BURNOUT IS MORE LIKELY AND MORE SEVERE
Menopause adds physical and emotional strain. For Autistic women, this can push an already taxed system into deeper, longer-lasting burnout.
SLEEP DISRUPTION HAS A GREATER IMPACT
Many women have sleep issues during menopause. Autistic women often rely more on rest to function, so disrupted sleep can affect mood, thinking, and daily functioning more strongly.
MASKING BECOMES HARDER OR IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN
Non-Autistic women are not managing masking in the same way. Many Autistic women find they can no longer sustain it, leading to increased visibility of their Autistic traits.
SOCIAL TOLERANCE DECREASES MORE NOTICEABLY
Many women become less tolerant of stress. Autistic women may feel a stronger shift away from small talk, social expectations, and environments that feel inauthentic or draining.
BODY AWARENESS CHANGES CAN BE MORE CONFUSING OR INTENSE
Menopause brings body changes for everyone. Autistic women may find these changes harder to interpret or more overwhelming due to differences in sensing and processing internal signals.
HIGHER CHANCE OF LATE IDENTIFICATION AS AUTISTIC
Menopause does not change neurotype, but the loss of coping strategies can make lifelong differences more visible, leading many of us to finally recognize ourselves.
Recognizing how challenging menopause can be is just the beginning of understanding what Autistic women deal with during menopause. Trying to find help is a whole other story. When we need help with menopause, finding a professional who understands what our lived experiences bring to this life transition is another issue entirely. Family doctors often do not understand. OB/GYNs do not receive specific training in supporting Autistic patients. Many of us struggle to describe what we are experiencing, or to communicate such personal information in the first place.
When we are in an appointment, what happens?
Too often, we are dismissed, redirected, or misunderstood. Some of us have been offered anti-anxiety meds, told to go for walks, lose weight, gain weight, get more sleep. It is so exasperating and gaslighting. Many Autistic women have faced difficult life challenges that stem from their experience of menopause. They've lost their jobs or lost their life partners. It is high time that we are heard and taken seriously and offered relevant support in a timely manner. Am I asking too much?
My hope with this post is to keep the conversation going to increase understanding. Consider printing this and bringing it to your primary care provider.
We are not here to compare or minimize what other women go through. We are here to say this: many Autistic women enter menopause already dealing with a lot. Our nervous system can already be on high alert, masking and avoiding social rejection. Our sensory system can already feel overloaded. We are often putting in significant effort just to stay calm and focused day to day. When menopause adds hot flashes, sleep disruption, and hormonal shifts on top of that, it can feel like too much, all at once.
Here are 10 of the most impactful reasons the Autistic menopause experience is so extra:
SENSORY SENSITIVITY INCREASES MORE SHARPLY
Many women notice some sensitivity changes. Autistic women often experience a significant spike, where heat, sweat, fabrics, and noise can become overwhelming or even painful.
HOT FLASHES ARE MORE THAN PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT
For many non-Autistic women, hot flashes are uncomfortable. For Autistic women, they can trigger sensory overload, distress, and a loss of regulation.
EMOTIONAL CHANGES CAN FEEL HARDER TO REGULATE
Mood shifts happen for many women. Autistic women may experience them as more intense, faster, and harder to recover from.
EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DECLINES MORE NOTICEABLY
Brain fog is common in menopause. Autistic women may experience a sharper drop in planning, memory, and task initiation because these systems were already working hard.
BURNOUT IS MORE LIKELY AND MORE SEVERE
Menopause adds physical and emotional strain. For Autistic women, this can push an already taxed system into deeper, longer-lasting burnout.
SLEEP DISRUPTION HAS A GREATER IMPACT
Many women have sleep issues during menopause. Autistic women often rely more on rest to function, so disrupted sleep can affect mood, thinking, and daily functioning more strongly.
MASKING BECOMES HARDER OR IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN
Non-Autistic women are not managing masking in the same way. Many Autistic women find they can no longer sustain it, leading to increased visibility of their Autistic traits.
SOCIAL TOLERANCE DECREASES MORE NOTICEABLY
Many women become less tolerant of stress. Autistic women may feel a stronger shift away from small talk, social expectations, and environments that feel inauthentic or draining.
BODY AWARENESS CHANGES CAN BE MORE CONFUSING OR INTENSE
Menopause brings body changes for everyone. Autistic women may find these changes harder to interpret or more overwhelming due to differences in sensing and processing internal signals.
HIGHER CHANCE OF LATE IDENTIFICATION AS AUTISTIC
Menopause does not change neurotype, but the loss of coping strategies can make lifelong differences more visible, leading many of us to finally recognize ourselves.
Recognizing how challenging menopause can be is just the beginning of understanding what Autistic women deal with during menopause. Trying to find help is a whole other story. When we need help with menopause, finding a professional who understands what our lived experiences bring to this life transition is another issue entirely. Family doctors often do not understand. OB/GYNs do not receive specific training in supporting Autistic patients. Many of us struggle to describe what we are experiencing, or to communicate such personal information in the first place.
When we are in an appointment, what happens?
Too often, we are dismissed, redirected, or misunderstood. Some of us have been offered anti-anxiety meds, told to go for walks, lose weight, gain weight, get more sleep. It is so exasperating and gaslighting. Many Autistic women have faced difficult life challenges that stem from their experience of menopause. They've lost their jobs or lost their life partners. It is high time that we are heard and taken seriously and offered relevant support in a timely manner. Am I asking too much?
My hope with this post is to keep the conversation going to increase understanding. Consider printing this and bringing it to your primary care provider.
When Heather appeared on America’s Next Top Model, she spoke openly about not understanding jokes and finding social dialogue difficult as an autistic person.
For many autistic people, humour isn't always obvious and conversations don’t follow clear rules.
Heather wasn’t being awkward on purpose. She was sharing a space that wasn’t designed for her communication style.
And instead of being met with understanding, she was judged. Another model said: “I don’t want to be friends with her because people like that cling.”
Autistic people are often labelled as “too much” for simply trying to connect.
Seeking clarity can be seen as neediness and wanting friendship can be seen as clingy.
Watching it back now, it’s hard to watch Heather being rejected by contestants for simply trying to connect.
For many autistic people, humour isn't always obvious and conversations don’t follow clear rules.
Heather wasn’t being awkward on purpose. She was sharing a space that wasn’t designed for her communication style.
And instead of being met with understanding, she was judged. Another model said: “I don’t want to be friends with her because people like that cling.”
Autistic people are often labelled as “too much” for simply trying to connect.
Seeking clarity can be seen as neediness and wanting friendship can be seen as clingy.
Watching it back now, it’s hard to watch Heather being rejected by contestants for simply trying to connect.
The Custom Facebook Feed plugin
